Suhakam to look into Wan Ji’s assault claim
Commissioner Madeline Berma says Suhakam will investigate whether the preacher was assaulted while in prison, along with complaints about the low quality of food served to him.
PETALING JAYA: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) says it will look into a memorandum received from preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin alleging that he was physically assaulted when he was held at Kajang prison.
“Suhakam will initiate an investigation into Wan Ji’s allegations of assault and human rights violations and we will update him on the progress,” commissioner Madeline Berma said after receiving the memorandum from him today.
She said the key issues were whether he was assaulted by a warden while in detention, along with complaints about the low quality of food served to him.
Wan Ji was accompanied by Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy.
Jailed for sedition, Wan Ji claimed he was physically assaulted by a warden with a thick Kelantanese accent during the three days he was held at Kajang prison.
In a 2.55-minute YouTube video, he said he was hit a few times.
“There was a warden. His face covered, he asked me for my name. I said Wan Ji.
“He told me to remove my glasses and said you are the one who criticised the Sultan. He then started hitting me,” he said.
At that point, he said other wardens started laughing.
He said the assault took place just after he had been told to remove his clothes and had been given a shave.
Wan Ji was sentenced to a year’s jail on July 9 on an appeal by the prosecution for an enhanced sentence and ordered to begin serving his term.
Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram
He was released on July 12 after his lawyers filed for a stay of the sentence pending an appeal.